This one of a kind necklace made of African red vinyl disc beads, features a center block of unique, old Venetian (black & white), Prosser (faceted red), blue Mali and Bohemian (cherry red center bead) glass beads. Interlaced are leather spacers and tribal silver beads: black ebony and silver inlay beads from the Tuareg of Mauritania, Bedouin silver knob beads from Yemen and round silver end beads from Pakistan.

The European glass bead industry flourished from the 16^th through the 19the century. The earliest and most renowned European glass bead making center was in Venice. Glass factories existed in Italy, Holland, Belgium, Germany, Moravia and France, but Venetian glass dominated the market. Different glass bead making centers emphasized the use of certain techniques. Some trade glass beads were used for barter, but most of them were used for trade in Africa and North America.

Vulcanite or “vinyl” Heishi disc beads are said to be made from vulcanized rubber or recycled phonograph records. Beads such as these were exported to Africa from Europe during the early 1900s for the purpose of trade.

44.5 cm